Population modelling of Varroa jacobsoni Oud.

To understand population dynamics of the mite Varroa-jacobsoni and to enabl e computer simulations, Fries et al. [12] incorporated available knowledge into a mite population model. In this paper, we update and extend this mode l by incorporating more recent data, in particular on mite invasion from be es into brood cells. By predicting invasion into and emergence from brood c ells, the model proves to be useful to evaluate the effects of changes in m odel parameters on the mite population when the distribution of mites over bees and brood are important. The model predicts that a longer brood rearin g period dramatically increases the mite population size and that a relativ ely larger number of drone brood cells leads to an increased population gro wth. As mite control treatments often only affect mites either in brood cel ls or on adult bees, the model can be used to evaluate their effectiveness and timing. The model indicates that changes in parameters that affect the reproductive success of the mites in brood cells have a large impact on the mite population. (C) Inra/DIB/AGIB/Elsevier; Paris.